You didn’t quite remember how this little tradition had started, or even which one of you started it, but it was something you cherished every moment of.
“Do we want butter tonight?” Marc’s smooth voice called from the living room, the smell of homemade popcorn wafting through the air.
As if the answer to that question would ever change.
“Yes, always!” You called back, shoving your feet into your favourite pair of slippers before shuffling out of the bedroom.
It was movie night, something you and Marc tried to do on a regular basis when your respective schedules allowed it. A night of snuggling up together in comfy pajamas, a variety of snacks at the ready, and a shared love of film. Not only was it relaxing, but you had noticed that it was something the two of you could bond over.
Marc was still in the kitchen, salting and buttering the bowl of popcorn he had prepared. You quickly slid your slippered feet across the wooden floor, wrapping your arms around him from behind.
“Come on already,” you teased with a smile, standing on your tiptoes to rest your chin on his shoulder. “Not like Gordon Ramsey is gonna be here.”
You could practically hear him roll his eyes, then let out a soft chuckle.
“I’ve told you before, it’s an art form,” he paid no mind to your impatience as he plucked a piece of popcorn out of the bowl and held it to your lips. “Is it good?”
You took the fluffy kernel onto your tongue, the perfect mix of buttery and salty flavour melting into your mouth.
“It’s perfect,” you assured him, planting a quick kiss onto his clothed shoulder before stepping back and unwrapping your arms from his waist.
You grabbed a couple of sodas from the fridge while Marc brought the bowl of popcorn to the living room, and you quickly followed.
With everything on the coffee table and within reach, you waited a moment for Marc to get settled on the couch. He stretched his legs out to rest on the ottoman, then looked at you with those gorgeous brown eyes.
“C’mere, baby,” he smiled at you brightly, draping his arm across the back of the couch.
You wasted no time joining him, snuggling into his side with your head on his chest and your legs curled to the side. You let your arms wrap around him again, one draped across his stomach and the other wrapping around the small of his back.
“Comfortable?” He asked sweetly, looking at you with an expression that made your heart swell with adoration.
You nodded in response, snuggling as close as humanly possible to him. His arm wrapped around your shoulders, holding you close to him as he pressed his soft lips to the top of your head.
After a moment of enjoying each other's warmth in comfortable silence, Marc reached for the remote with his free hand and turned on the TV.
“So, what do we want to watch tonight?” He asked as he opened Netflix, looking through the options that popped up.
“I picked last time, it’s your turn,” you reminded him, eyes focused on the screen as the seemingly endless list of movies scrolled by. It took awhile, but eventually he landed on one that looked interesting.
Truly neither of you minded what was on, as long as you were together like this.
You grabbed the bowl of popcorn from the coffee table, balancing it between the two of you so you could both reach it.
As the movie played, the snacks and drinks slowly disappeared as the night went on. You guys laughed together, made fun of the characters together, and simply enjoyed each other’s company.
Somehow Marc ended up laying across the length of the couch, and somehow you ended up sprawled out on top of him with your face rubbing against the soft fabric of his shirt as he mindlessly petted your hair.
By the time the credits rolled, the two of you were completely tangled together in each other's arms.
Beneath you, Marc’s breathing evened out to a slow and steady pace. You lifted your head to look at him, finding that his eyes were closed and his lips were ever so slightly parted. You smiled at the sight, taking in how peaceful he looked while he slept.
You carefully and slowly managed to get a cushion under his head without waking him, hoping that would prevent him from having a stiff neck in the morning. You pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek, and his arms wrapped around you tighter as he shifted slightly.
You held back a chuckle, finding it harder to move around in your current predicament.
You pulled the blanket from the back of the couch over the two of you, knowing by morning that the autumn chill would set into the flat.
With everything else taken care of, you barely managed to reach the remote to turn off the TV, leaving the living room dark save for the dim desk lamp.
Letting out a content sigh, you got comfortable again. The steady rise and fall of Marc’s chest beneath your head was comforting, lulling you to sleep slowly.
As your eyes slipped closed, you couldn’t help but to think about how much love you held in your heart for the little moments like this.